Skip to: site navigation
Students and Teachers
This page contains links to information about bushfires and planned burns in Victoria for students and teachers. Find out where bushfires are currently burning. Discover what causes bushfires and how DSE fights them, on the ground and from the air. Learn about planned burns that are occurring in your area and why burns are carried out.
Students
Current fires and planned burns Bushfires- What causes bushfires in Victoria?
- How does DSE fight fires?
- Using aircraft to fight fires
- How does fire affect the environment?
- Information sheets - fire topics
- Publications - includes information about bushfire safety, how DSE manages fire on public land and why DSE carries out planned burns on public land.
- Bushfire history - major fires in Victoria back to 1851 - includes information about Black Saturday, Ash Wednesday, Black Friday and the 2003 Alpine Fires in Victoria.
- Black Friday 1939 - summary
- Black Friday 1939 - ABC Online Documentary
- Bushfire photo gallery
Teachers
School Bushfire Education ProgramsFire Education programs that focus on the important role of fire in the Australian landscape and the role of fire in maintaining biodiversity are available through the following centres:
- DSE's Toolangi Forest Discovery Centre
- Royal Botanical Gardens Cranbourne - For bookings and enquiries, phone 5990 2200
- Parks Victoria - Contact Parks Victoria to find out about their bushfire education programs 13 1963.
- CFA offers bushfire education programs in schools around the fringe of Melbourne and in rural areas. CFA also provides on-line teaching materials
Visit the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development website for information supporting the planning of outdoor activities and excursions. This web information includes bushfire emergency response procedures for those carrying out school council approved excursions.
Fire Awareness Awards
Schools are encouraged to enter fire projects in the Education category of the annual Fire Awareness Awards. Schools can also apply for grants to develop and undertake a new fire safety initiative, or further develop an existing fire safety initiative. Two sets of grants are offered - the RACV Insurance $10,000 Fire Grant and Fire Services - Special Incentive Grants of up to $2,000.
Other